Amusement device

Abstract: Amusement device in which persons sitting on seats (13) observe the environment in varying positions. The amusement device comprises a column (6) which is suspended from at least one supporting leg (1) in such a way that it can rotate about a horizontal or slanting first shaft (9), a counterweight (2) disposed at one end of the column (6), and a passenger gondola (5) disposed at the other end of the column (6), and means (15) for rotating the column (6) about the horizontal or slanting first shaft (9). The passenger gondola (5) is suspended between the teeth (8) of a fork (7) disposed at the other end of the column (6). The gondola (5) in this case can rotate about a second shaft (10) extending between the teeth (8). The fork (7) can rotate about a third shaft (11) positioned essentially at right angles to the column (6) and/or about the longitudinal axis of the column (6). These rotations are preferably all lockable.

Description: The present invention relates to an amusement device and method of operating this device according to the preamble of claims 1 and 9, respectively. Such an amusement device is disclosed in DE-A-3,234,325 and DE-A-3,234,341. In this amusement device the rotation axis of the gondola extends perpendicular to the row of passenger seats. In case the drive means for rotating the gondola with respect to the arms fail, this can lead to dangerous situations, in which the gondola can hit the ground. A further device is known from Dutch Patent Application 86.00190. This amusement device comprises two columns which can rotate about a horizontal shaft, and each of which is suspended from a supporting leg. A counterweight is fixed to one end of each column, while a passenger gondola, extending between the two ends, is disposed at the other end of each column. In order to rotate such a gondola, at the same time both columns must be driven separately, so that said columns are made to rotate about a horizontal shaft, and the gondola is thus made to describe a circle lying in a vertical plane. These drives must run in synchronism, in order to ensure a true circular path of the gondola. Special movement effects are produced by making the two motors run out of synchronism from time to time, with the result that a phase difference occurs in the rotation of the two columns. In order to keep the movement of the gondola fully under control, it is necessary for the drives of the two columns to be fully synchronizable, in such a way that they can rotate at the same speed of rotation at all times. This synchronization is difficult, inter alia because in practice it is not known beforehand how the gondola will be loaded and how said load will be distributed. If one of the drives for the columns fails, highly dangerous situations can occur. US-A-2,562,324 discloses an amusement apparatus with two swinging arms each extending between a horizontal rotating axis and a U-shaped hanger with a carrier for one passenger. This apparatus does not have a counterweight, so that it must be swung to and fro in a gradually increasing arc before the passenger carrier can make a full rotation around the horizontal rotating axis of the swing arm. The swinging to and fro results in great dynamic and harmful loads on the apparatus. The object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device and method of operating such device by which spectacular effects can be achieved. This object is achieved according to the invention through a device and method according to claims 1 and 9, respectively. With a fork construction only one column is needed, and thus only one drive to make it possible to rotate the gondola essentially in a circular path. In this way the synchronization problem is avoided completely. If the drive making the column rotate about the first shaft fails, no dangerous situations need occur if the rotation about the first shaft is brought gradually to a standstill. In order to be able to achieve spectacular movement effects in the case of such a construction, it is advantageous according to the invention if the amusement device has one or more of the following movement possibilities: the gondola can rotate about a second rotary shaft extending between the teeth, the fork can rotate about a third rotary shaft situated essentially at right angles to the column, the fork can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the column. For the sake of safety, and for achieving further spectacular effects, it is advantageous according to the invention if one or more of these movements are lockable. The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which an example of an embodiment is illustrated. Figure 1 shows a side view, and Figure 2 shows a front view of the amusement device according to the invention. The amusement device shown comprises a number of supporting legs 1 which extend upwards at an angle from anchoring blocks 3 to a rotatably mounted horizontal first shaft 9, about which the column 6 can rotate by means of drive unit 15. A counterweight 2 is disposed at one end of the column 6, and a fork 7 with teeth 8 is disposed at the other end of the column. A gondola 5 is suspended between the teeth 8. The gondola 5 is provided with two rows of seats 13, each with a seat belt 14. A platform 4 is provided between the supporting legs, for the passengers to step into and out of the gondola 5. The drive unit 15 can be fixed either to the column 6, in which case the driven shaft is fixed to the supporting legs 1, or - as in Figure 2 - to a supporting leg, in which case the driven shaft is then fixed to the column 6. The drive unit 15 used can be, for example, an electric motor with gear transmission, but many other drive mechanisms are also possible. The gondola 5 is preferably rotatable about the rotary shaft 10 extending between the teeth 8. However, it is useful if the gondola 5 can be locked to prevent rotation about shaft 10 while passengers are boarding. When the column 6 is rotating at low speed about rotary shaft 9, the gondola 5, if it is rotatable about rotary shaft 10, will always remain with its bottom side 20 essentially facing the ground. When the column 6 is rotating at high speed about shaft 9, gondola 5, if it is rotatable about rotary shaft 10, will assume an essentially fixed position relative to the column 6 depending on the centrifugal forces. Special effects can be obtained by locking or unlocking the rotation of the gondola 5 about rotary shaft 10 during the rotation of the column 6 about shaft 9. It may also be possible to regulate the rotation of the gondola about rotary shaft 10 by means of drive means which are not shown. Such gondola drive means make it possible to position the gondola 5 with respect to the fork 7. Further, this gondola drive means enable to control forces acting on the gondola 5 during rotation of the column 6 about axis 9. So peak loads can be smoothened in order to lower dynamic loads. Furthermore, the gondola drive means provide for special looping effects. Further movement effects can be achieved by making the fork 7 rotate about rotary shaft 11 and/or about the longitudinal axis of the column 6. It is possible to control these rotary movements about the shafts 11 and/or 12 by means of drive means and/or locking means which are not shown. Especially, when rotating the column 6 about axis 9 and preferably also the gondola about axis 10, rotating the fork about the longitudinal axis of the column is very spectacular to the passengers. It may also be possible to suspend the seats 13 so that they rotate relative to the gondola 5. Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the column could be disposed in a slanting position. The seats, for example, could also be disposed in various positions relative to the fork.

Claims: Amusement device, comprising: a column (6) which is suspended from at least one supporting leg (1) in such a way that it can rotate about a horizontal or slanting first shaft (9), a counterweight (2) disposed at one end of said column (6), and a passenger gondola (5) suspended at the other end of the column (6) between the teeth (8) of a fork (7), and in which the gondola (5) can rotate about a second rotary shaft (10) extending between the teeth (8), characterized in that the gondola (5) is lockable or unlockable relative to the second rotary shaft (10) during the rotation of the column (6) about first shaft (9). Amusement device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is provided with gondola drive means for rotating the gondola (5) about second rotary shaft (10), the gondola drive means preferably regulating the rotation of the gondola (5) about the second rotary shaft (10). Amusement device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fork (7) can rotate about a third rotary shaft (11) positioned essentially at right angles to the column. Amusement device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the fork (7) is lockable relative to said third rotary shaft (11). Amusement device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fork (7) can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the column. Amusement device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the fork (7) is lockable relative to the longitudinal axis of the column (6). Amusement device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one row of seats (13) is provided in the passenger gondola (5), the at least one row extending between the teeth (8) of the fork. Amusement device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the seats (13) are rotatable relative to the gondola (5). Method of obtaining special effects with an amusement device, in which the amusement device comprises: a column (6) which is suspended from at least one supporting leg (1) in such a way that it can rotate about a horizontal or slanting first shaft (9), a counterweight (2) disposed at one end of said column (6), and a passenger gondola (5) suspended at the other end of the column (6) between the teeth (8) of a fork (7), in which the gondola (5) can rotate about a second rotary shaft (10) extending between the teeth (8), and in which the column (6) is rotated about first shaft (9), characterized in that the rotation of the gondola about the second rotary shaft (10) is locked or unlocked during the rotation of the column (6) about first shaft (9). Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotation of the gondola about the second rotary shaft (10) is regulated by gondola drive means. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the fork (7) is rotated in controllable manner about a third rotary shaft (11). Method according to one of the claims 9-11, characterized in that the fork (7) is rotated in controllable manner about the longitudinal axis of the column (6).

Inventors: BUSSINK RONALD ALEXANDER, BUSSINK, RONALD ALEXANDER
Applicants: RONALD BUSSINK BEHEER B V, RONALD BUSSINK BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A63G27
IPC codes: A63G9, A63G27